Hinge assemblies for computing devices

ABSTRACT

A hinge assembly of a computing device may be provided, for example. The hinge assembly may include a first hinge member and a second hinge member. The first hinge member may include a first mounting plate attached to a first gudgeon member via a first tongue portion. The second hinge member may include a second mounting plate attached to a second gudgeon member via a second tongue portion. The first and second mounting plates may be shaped so that they can be stacked in parallel along an axis such that the first and second gudgeons may be aligned perpendicular to the axis to allow a pintle member to be inserted through the first and second gudgeons and such that the first and second tongue portions may be spaced apart along the axis.

BACKGROUND

A computing device such as a laptop may include a display assembly and abase section that are rotatably attached by a hinge. The hinge may allowa limited angle of rotation between the members about a pivotal axis ofrotation. Using the hinge, a user may transition the display assemblybetween a closed position, in which the display assembly may be inparallel with the base section such that the display assembly is facinginward and adjacent toward a keyboard of the base section, and an openposition, in which the display assembly is oriented at, for example, anobtuse angle relative to the base section to allow the user to view thedisplay assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some examples are described with respect to the following figures:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a hinge assembly according tosome examples;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a computing device having afriction hinge that has a hinge assembly, a pintle member, and a plateaccording to some examples;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the hinge assembly and theplate of FIG. 2 according to some examples;

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate perspective views of hinge members of the hingeassembly of FIG. 2 according to some examples;

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the computing device of FIG. 2according to some examples;

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross sectional view along line 1-1 of FIG. 6 oftongue portions of the hinge members of FIG. 6 and additional tongueportions of an additional hinge assembly according to some examples;

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a hinge assembly according tosome examples; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate perspective views of hinge members of thehinge assembly of FIG. 8 according to some examples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before particular examples of the present disclosure are disclosed anddescribed, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited tothe particular examples disclosed herein as such may vary to somedegree. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein isused for the purpose of describing particular examples only and is notintended to be limiting, as the scope of the present disclosure will bedefined only by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following terminology is understoodthe mean the following when recited by the specification or the claims.The singular forms ‘a,’ ‘an,’ and ‘the’ are intended to mean ‘one ormore.’ For example, ‘a part’ includes reference to one or more of such a‘part.’ Additionally, the term ‘attached’ is intended to include bothdirect forms of attachment and indirect forms of attachment such aswhere one or more intervening elements may be included between the partsbeing attached. Further, the terms ‘including’ and ‘having’ are intendedto have the same meaning as the term ‘comprising’ has in patent law.

The present disclosure concerns a friction hinge for a computing devicethat may provide reduced oscillation, secure fastening of the hingeassembly to the base section, and high structural stability andstiffness, (1) without negatively impacting the friction hinge'soperating characteristics, such as hinge operating force requirements orrotational movement of the friction hinge, and (2) without increasingthe size of the overall friction hinge, thereby allowing the frictionhinge to fit in the limited space provided by a computing device. Theelements of the friction hinge responsible for operating characteristicsand for structural stability aspects may be decoupled, thereby allowingoptimization of operating characteristics and structural stabilityaspects independently.

The hinge assembly is made up of separate hinge members that mayincorporate structural stiffening features and damping features. Thesefeatures may include appropriate dimensioning, for example stackingmounting plates of the hinge members, such that tongue portionsconnecting the mounting plates to gudgeon members may be verticallyspaced apart relative to each other, and such that the tongue portionsmay be widened.

The dimensions of the friction hinge may thus be selected to have a highnatural frequency and a decreased settling time. These features mayprovide high structural stability and stiffness, a boost in the rigidityof the friction hinge, and less deflection and faster stabilization ofthe display assembly under external disturbance, creating a better userexperience.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a hinge assembly 10 accordingto some examples. To aid in illustration of the hinge assembly 10, a setof perpendicular axes are shown, namely an x-axis 2, y-axis 4, andz-axis 6.

The hinge assembly 10 may include hinge members 12 and 14. The hingemember 12 may include mounting plate 15 attached to a gudgeon member 18via a tongue portion 24. The hinge member 14 may include mounting plate19 attached to a gudgeon member 22 via a tongue portion 26. The firstand second mounting plates 15 and 19 may be shaped so that they can bestacked in parallel along the z-axis 6 such that the first and secondgudgeons 18 and 22 may be aligned to allow a pintle member to beinserted therethrough and such that the first and second tongue portions24 and 26 may be spaced apart along the z-axis 6.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a computing device 168 having afriction hinge 100 that has a hinge assembly 110, a pintle member 146,and a plate 156 according to some examples. To aid in illustration ofthe friction hinge 100, a set of perpendicular axes are shown, namely anx-axis 102, y-axis 104, and z-axis 106.

The hinge assembly 110 may include hinge members 112 and 114. The hingemember 112 may include a mounting plate 115 having opposing mountingsurfaces 116 and 117. The hinge member 112 may also include a gudgeonmember 118. The hinge member 114 may include a mounting plate 119 havingopposing mounting surfaces 120 and 121. The hinge member 114 may alsoinclude a gudgeon member 122. Because the hinge members 112 and 114 maybe separate parts, the hinge members 112 and 114 may be mountedindependently to a member such as a base section 170 of a computingdevice 168. The friction hinge 100 may also include a pintle member 146.

The friction hinge 100 may be used to rotatably attach two members toallow the two members to rotate with respect to each other about apivotal axis of rotation 144 that is parallel or substantially parallelto the x-axis 102. The two members may be members of a computing device168. For example, one member may be a display assembly 172 and the othermember may be a base section 170. The computing device 168 may, forexample, be a laptop, notebook computer, personal computer tablet,convertible notebook computer, or hand-held computer. If the hingeassembly 110 is attached, e.g. rigidly attached, to a display assembly172 and the pintle member 146 is attached, e.g. rigidly attached, to abase section 170, then the display assembly 172 and the base section 170may be allowed to rotate with respect to each other about the pivotalaxis of rotation 144.

Each of the mounting surfaces 116, 117, 120, and 121 may be planar, suchthat the mounting surfaces 116, 117, 120, 121 may lie parallel orsubstantially parallel to a plane formed by the x-axis 102 and they-axis 104, and perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to thez-axis 106. However, the mounting surfaces 116, 117, 120, and 121 do notnecessarily need to be planar. Each of the mounting plates 115 and 119may be substantially flat. For example, their thicknesses along thez-axis 106 may be substantially smaller than their widths in the x-axis102 and y-axis 104. The mounting plate 115 may have extensions 127, 129,and 131, and the mounting plate 119 may have extensions 133, 135, and137. Each of the extensions 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, and 137 may defineone or more fastener receiving parts 128, and the mounting surfaces 120and 121 may define one or more fastener receiving parts 130. In someexamples, the fastener receiving parts 128 and 130 may be holes and/orgrooves.

The mounting plate 115, and its mounting surfaces 116 and 117, may beattached to the gudgeon member 118, for example directly, or for examplevia a tongue portion 124 as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the hinge member 112may include a tongue portion 124 which may span between and be attachedto each of the mounting plate 115 and the gudgeon member 118. Likewise,the mounting plate 119, and its mounting surfaces 120 and 121, may beattached to the gudgeon member 122, for example via a tongue portion126. Thus, the hinge member 114 may include a tongue portion 126 whichmay span between and which may be attached to each of the mounting plate119 and the gudgeon member 122.

The tongue portion 124 may have opposing tongue surfaces 123 and 125,and the tongue portion 126 may have opposing tongue surfaces 162 and164. Each of the tongue surfaces 123, 125, 162, and 164 may be planar,such that the tongue surfaces 123, 125, 162, and 164 may be may lieparallel to or substantially parallel to a plane formed by the x-axis102 and the y-axis 104, and perpendicular or substantially perpendicularto the z-axis 106. However, the tongue surfaces 123, 125, 162, and 164do not necessarily need to be planar. If the mounting plates 115 and 119are stacked in parallel along the z-axis 106, the total height of theregion along the z-axis 106 having the tongue portions 124 and 126 maybe increased and the tongue portions 124 and 126 may be spaced apartalong the z-axis 106. As the tongue portions 124 and 126 may not becoplanar, and may instead be spaced apart along the z-axis 106, thetongue portions 124 and 126 may be widened along the x-axis 102 suchthat they may overlap each other along the z-axis 106. Each of thesefeatures may increase the rigidity the tongue portions 124 and 126 whenthe parts of friction hinge 100 are attached and in use, and may allowthe tongue portions 124 and 126 to support a member such as a displayassembly 172 with decreased bending of the tongue portions 124 and 126.In some examples, as shown in FIG. 2, the tongue portions 124 and 126may have widths that taper along the y-axis 104 toward the gudgeonmembers 118 and 122 to form trapezoidal or substantially trapezoidalshapes until reaching sharp bends 109 and 111 that may transition intothe gudgeon members 118 and 122, which may have constant widths alongthe x-axis 102. Thus, the tongue portions 124 and 126 may be wider alongthe x-axis 102 than the gudgeon members 118 and 122.

Each of the gudgeon members 118 and 122 may be annular, partiallyannular, or at least partially annular. The gudgeon members 118 and 122may each have walls 132 and 134 having opposing cylindrical innersurfaces 136 and 138 and opposing cylindrical outer surfaces 140 and142, such that the walls 132 and 134 may extend cylindrically andcircumferentially and may wrap around and be aligned to the pivotal axisof rotation 144. In some examples, the walls 132 and 134 may extendsubstantially circumferentially 360 degrees to form closed annuluses. Inother examples, such as is shown in FIG. 2, the gudgeon members 118 and122 may curve and extend substantially circumferentially less than 360degrees to form partially open annuluses. In these examples, the walls132 and 134 may extend away from the respective mounting plates 115 and119 in opposite substantially circumferential directions relative toeach other.

The friction hinge 100 may include a plate 156. The plate 156 may haveopposing surfaces 158 and 160, each of which may be planar, such thatthe surfaces 158 and 160 may be may lie parallel to or substantiallyparallel to a plane formed by the x-axis 102 and the y-axis 104, andperpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the z-axis 106. However,the surfaces 158 and 160 do not necessarily need to be planar. Each ofthe surfaces 158 and 160 may be substantially flat. For example, theirthicknesses along the z-axis 106 may be substantially smaller than theirwidths in the x-axis 102 and y-axis 104. The mounting plate 115 maydefine one or more fastener receiving parts 161, which may be holesand/or grooves. The plate 156 may be disposed between the mountingplates 115 and 119. For example, the surface 158 may be attached to themounting surface 116, and the surface 160 may be attached to themounting surface 120. The plate 156 may have the same shape as themounting plates 115 and 119, such that the edges of the mounting plates115 and 119 and the plate 156 may be flush with each other around theirperimeters. The plate 156 may be a stiffening plate and/or a dampingplate. The plate 156 may stiffen the friction hinge 100 by, for example,increasing the width spanned along the z-axis 106 by the mounting plates115 and 119 and the plate 156. For example, if the mounting plates 115and 119 and the plate 156 are stacked in parallel along the z-axis 106,(1) the total height of the region along the z-axis 106 having thetongue portions 124 and 126 may be increased and the tongue portions 124and 126 may be spaced apart along the z-axis 106, and (2) the totalheight of the region along the z-axis 106 having the mounting plates 115and 119 and the plate 156 may be increased. The plate 156 may dampenvibrations on the friction hinge 100 by absorbing mechanicaloscillations that may be produced by the friction hinge 100 during use.The stiffening and/or damping features may be due to the geometry of theplate 156 and/or the plate 156 being of a suitable material such as willbe described below.

When the mounting plates 115 and 119, the plate 156, their surfaces 116,117, 120, 121, 156, and 158, and the base section 170 are adjacent toeach other, e.g. stacked in parallel along the z-axis 106 on a membersuch as the base section 170 of the computing device 168, each fastenerreceiving part 128 may be aligned with corresponding fastener receivingparts 130 and 161 and a corresponding fastener part 174 of the basesection 170 to allow a fastener, e.g. a hinge pin or a screw, to beinserted through the corresponding fastener receiving parts 128, 130,161, and 174. The fastener receiving parts 174 may be holes and/orgrooves. Thus, each set of corresponding fastener receiving parts 128,130, 161, and 174 may be aligned substantially along the z-axis 106 toallow a fastener to be inserted therethrough, such that the number offasteners to be inserted may be equal to the number of sets ofcorresponding fastener receiving parts 128, 130, 161, and 174. If theone or more fasteners are inserted through the hinge members 110 and 112and into the base section 170, the hinge members 110 and 112 may beattached, e.g. rigidly attached, to each other and to the base section170.

The mounting plates 115 and 119, and their mounting surfaces 116, 117,120, and 121, may be shaped so that the mounting plates 115 and 119 canbe placed adjacent to each other, e.g. stacked in parallel along thez-axis 106 on a member such as a base section 170 of the computingdevice 168, such that the first and second gudgeon members 118 and 120may be aligned to allow the pintle member 146 to be insertedtherethrough, e.g. longitudinally inserted therethrough, and coupled tothe gudgeon members 118 and 122, and such that the first and secondtongue portions 124 and 126 may be spaced apart along the z-axis 106. Insome examples, the pintle member 146 may be inserted through and/orrotatably coupled about the pivotal axis of rotation 144 to the gudgeonmembers 118 and 122. The pintle member 146 may frictionally engage theinner surfaces 136 and 138 by way of an interference fit wherein theinner surfaces 136 and 138 may exert an inward radial force on thepintle member 146, which may exert a reciprocal outward force on theinner surfaces 136 and 138. The frictional engagement of thesecylindrical mating surfaces may allow the angular position between thehinge assembly 110, and thereby the base section 170, and the pintlemember 146, and thereby the display assembly 172, to be maintained orheld in place at any desired angle between the hinge assembly 110 andthe pintle member 146, wherein the permitted range of angles may bebetween a minimum angle of zero degrees and a maximum angle of 180degrees, for example. Thus, the base section 170 and the displayassembly 172 may be oriented relative to each other between a minimumangle of zero degrees and a maximum angle of 180 degrees, for example.

The pintle member 146 may have a cylindrical or substantiallycylindrical portion 166 and a mounting plate 150, and may extendsubstantially along the x-axis 102. The cylindrical or substantiallycylindrical portion 166 may be a hollow annulus, or it may be a solid.The cylindrical or substantially cylindrical portion 166 may extend awayfrom the gudgeon members 118 and 122 and may be attached at its otherend to a mounting plate 150. The mounting plate 150 may extendlongitudinally substantially parallel to the pintle member 146 along thex-axis 102. The mounting plate 150 may have opposing surfaces 152 and154, each of which may be planar. However, the surfaces 152 and 154 donot necessarily need to be planar. The mounting plate 150 may rotateabout the pivotal axis of rotation 144, and may include fastenerreceiving parts 178. The display assembly 172 may include fastenerreceiving parts 180. The fastener receiving parts 178 and 180 may beholes and/or grooves. A fastener, e.g. a hinge pin or a screw, may beallowed to be inserted through the corresponding fastener receivingparts 178 and 180 to attach the mounting plate 150 to the displayassembly 172. The number of fasteners to be inserted may be equal to thenumber of sets of corresponding fastener receiving parts 178 and 180. Ifthe one or more fasteners are inserted through the mounting plate 150and into the display assembly 172, the pintle member 146 and the displayassembly 172 may be attached, e.g. rigidly attached, to each other.

As shown in FIG. 2, the hinge members 112 and 114, pintle member 146,and plate 156 may be single integral pieces, for example one-piececonstructions, such that there may be four separate integral pieces inthe friction hinge 100. The hinge members 112 and 114, and the plate 156may each be made of any suitable materials such as spring steel, and inparticular, spring steel SK7. Each of the hinge members 112 and 114, andplate 156 may be made by stamping an integral thin sheet metalstructure, followed by heating to harden the part. The pintle member 146may be made of any suitable materials such as stainless steel. Thestainless steel may be machined to make to pintle member 146.

In some examples, the plate 156 may be made of spring steel as describedabove, which may result in added stiffness to the friction hinge 100. Inother examples, the plate 156 may be made of a hard polymer materialhaving a high damping coefficient, such as a viscoelastic dampingpolymer, which may result in added stiffness and added dampingcharacteristics. In some examples, the plate 156 may be made of both thespring steel and the hard polymer material.

The hinge assembly 110 and the plate 156 may have the followingdimensions. Each of the mounting plates 115 and 119 and plate 156 mayhave widths of 42 millimeters along the x-axis 102, and may have widthsof 1 millimeter along the z-axis 106. Each of the gudgeon members 118and 122 may have widths of 6 millimeters along the x-axis 102, and mayhave outer diameters of 6 millimeters. The extension 127 may have awidth along the y-axis 104 of 8 millimeters. The tongue portions 124 and126 may have widths along the z-axis 106 of 1 millimeter and thus mayhave 1 millimeter of spacing between them along the z-axis 106. Thetongue portions 124 and 126 may have widths that taper along the y-axis104 toward the gudgeon members 118 and 122 from 11 millimeters to 6millimeters to form trapezoidal or substantially trapezoidal shapes.

Although not shown in FIG. 2, an additional friction hinge may beincluded and spaced apart from the friction hinge 100 on the z-axis 106at an opposite end of the computing device 168. The additional frictionhinge may include the features of the friction hinge 100, except thatthe additional friction hinge may be a mirror image along the z-axis 106of the friction hinge 100. Thus, the friction hinge 100 and theadditional friction hinge may together be used to rotatably attach twomembers.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the hinge assembly 110 and theplate 156 of FIG. 2 according to some examples, and FIGS. 4 and 5illustrate perspective views of hinge members 112 and 114 of the hingeassembly 110 of FIG. 2 according to some examples. The computing device168 and the pintle member 146 of FIG. 2 are not shown in FIGS. 3-5.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the computing device 168 of FIG. 2according to some examples. FIG. 6 additionally shows a fastener 176,e.g. a hinge pin or a screw, which may be inserted through the fastenerreceiving parts 128, 130, 161, and 174, and a fastener 182, e.g. a hingepin or a screw, which may be inserted through the fastener receivingparts 178 and 180.

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross sectional view along line 1-1 of FIG. 6 oftongue portions 124 and 126 of the hinge members of FIG. 6 andadditional tongue portions 192 and 194 of an additional hinge assembly196 according to some examples. The tongue portions 124 and 126 may notbe coplanar, and may instead be spaced apart along the z-axis 106. Thus,as shown, the tongue portions 124 and 126 may be widened along thex-axis 102, such that they overlap each other along the z-axis 106.Likewise, the tongue portions 192 and 194 may not be coplanar, and mayinstead be spaced apart along the z-axis 106. Thus, as shown, the tongueportions 192 and 194 may be widened along the x-axis 102 such that theyoverlap each other along the z-axis 106. The tongue portions 124, 126,192, and 194 may be 120% wider than if they were not spaced apart on thez-axis 106. Additionally, the total height along the z-axis 106 of thetongue portions 124, 126, 192, and 194 may be 300% compared to if theywere not spaced apart along the z-axis 106. The moment of inertia of thetongue portions 124, 126, 192, and 194 may thus be equal to 15.7 bh³/3,which may be 15.7 times greater than without the foregoing modificationsto width and height, in which case the moment of inertia may have beenbh³/3. The moment of inertia of 15.7 bh³/3 may provide high structuralstability and stiffness.

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a hinge assembly 210 and aplate 256 according to some examples, and FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrateperspective views of hinge members 212 and 214 of the hinge assembly 210of FIG. 8 according to some examples. To aid in illustration of thehinge assembly 210 and the plate 256, a set of perpendicular axes areshown, namely an x-axis 202, y-axis 204, and z-axis 206.

The hinge assembly 210 and the plate 256 may be used with pintle member146, base 170, and display assembly 172 of FIG. 2. The plate 256 may beidentical to the plate 156 of FIG. 2. Moreover, the hinge assembly 210may be identical to the hinge assembly 110 of FIG. 2, except that thehinge assembly 210 may include different tongue portions 224 and 226 inplace of the tongue portions 124 and 126, and may include differentgudgeon members 218 and 222 in place of the gudgeon members 118 and 122.Aside from any differences mentioned below, the tongue portions 224 and226 may have the same features as the tongue portions 124 and 126, andthe gudgeon members 218 and 222 may have the same features as thegudgeon members 118 and 122.

A mounting plate 215 may be attached to the gudgeon member 218 via thetongue portion 224. Thus, the hinge member 212 may include the tongueportion 224 which may span between and be attached to each of themounting plate 215 and the gudgeon member 218. Likewise, a mountingplate 219 may be attached to the gudgeon member 222 via the tongueportion 226. Thus, the hinge member 214 may include the tongue portion226 which may span between and which may be attached to each of themounting plate 219 and the gudgeon member 222.

The tongue portion 224 may have tongue surfaces 223 and 225, and thetongue portion 226 may have tongue surfaces 262 and 264. Each of thetongue surfaces 223, 225, 262, and 264 may have a curved planar shape.The curved planes of the tongue portions 224 and 226 may have widths of1 millimeter. The tongue portions 224 and 226 may not be coplanar, andmay instead be spaced apart along the z-axis 206, for example they mayhave 1 millimeter of spacing between them along the z-axis 206. Thetongue portions 224 and 226 may be widened along the x-axis 202 suchthat they may overlap each other along the z-axis 106. In some examples,as shown in FIGS. 8-10, the tongue portions 224 and 226 may have widthsthat taper along the y-axis 204 toward the gudgeon members 218 and 222to form trapezoidal or substantially trapezoidal shapes. Thus, thetongue portions 224 and 226 may be wider along the x-axis 202 than thegudgeon members 218 and 222. Additionally, the tongue portions 224 and226 may curve and extend circumferentially along the y-axis 204 ratherthan flat as is shown in FIG. 2, such that they may be curvedtrapezoids. The tongue portions 224 and 226 may curve and extend awayfrom the respective mounting plates 215 and 219 in oppositesubstantially circumferential directions relative to each other whiletapering.

Each of the gudgeon members 218 and 222 may be partially annular, andmay each have walls 232 and 234 having cylindrical inner surfaces 236and 238 and cylindrical outer surfaces 240 and 242, such that the walls232 and 234 may extend cylindrically and circumferentially and may wraparound and be aligned to a pivotal axis of rotation 244. The gudgeonmembers 218 and 222 may extend substantially circumferentially to formpartially open annuluses. The walls 232 and 234 may extend away from therespective mounting plates in opposite substantially circumferentialdirections relative to each other. Each of the gudgeon members 218 and222 may have outer diameters of 6 millimeters. The wall 232 may includea tapering portion 284 and a non-tapering portion 286, and the wall 234may include a tapering portion 288 and a non-tapering portion 290. Thetapering portions 284 and 288 may respectively be attached to the tongueportions 224 and 226 and continue the taper that began at the tongueportions 224 and 226. The tapering portions 284 and 288 may continue totaper until reaching gradual bends 209 and 211 that may transition intothe non-tapering portions 286 and 290. Thus at least one of or both ofthe gudgeon members 218 and 222 may taper in a direction away from therespective first and second mounting surfaces 215 and 219. The tongueportions 224 and 226 combined with the tapering portions 284 and 288 mayhave widths that taper toward the non-tapering portions 286 and 290 from11 millimeters to 6 millimeters to form curved trapezoidal orsubstantially trapezoidal shapes. The non-tapering portions 286 and 290may have constant widths of 6 millimeters along the x-axis 202. Each ofthe non-tapering portions 286 and 290 may extend substantiallycircumferentially for e.g., 180 degrees, about 180 degrees, or betweenabout 170 degrees and about 190 degrees, such that they are partialannuluses, e.g. half-open annuluses. These features may further increasethe rigidity the hinge members 212 and 214.

Thus, there have been described examples of hinge members, hingeassemblies, friction hinges, and computing devices. In the foregoingdescription, numerous details are set forth to provide an understandingof the subject disclosed herein. However, examples may be practicedwithout some or all of these details. Other examples may includemodifications and variations from the details discussed above. It isintended that the appended claims cover such modifications andvariations.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hinge assembly of a computing device, the hinge assembly comprising: a first hinge member including a first mounting plate attached to a first gudgeon member; a second hinge member including a second mounting plate attached to a second gudgeon member aligned with the first gudgeon member to permit a pintle member to be inserted through the first and second gudgeon members; and a stiffening plate attached between the first and second mounting plates to stiffen the hinge assembly.
 2. The hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein the first mounting plate, the stiffening plate, and the second mounting plate are stacked along an axis perpendicular to an axis along which the first and second gudgeon members are aligned.
 3. The hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein the first mounting plate, the stiffening plate, and the second mounting plate are stacked along an axis perpendicular to an axis along which the first and second gudgeon members extend from the first and second mounting plates.
 4. The hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein the first mounting plate, the stiffening plate, and the second mounting plate are stacked along a first axis, wherein the first and second gudgeon members are aligned along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and wherein the first and second gudgeon members extend from the first and second mounting plates along a third axis perpendicular to each of the first axis and the second axis.
 5. The hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein the first gudgeon member includes a first wall and is at least partially annular to receive the pintle member, wherein the second gudgeon member includes a second wall and is at least partially annular to receive the pintle member, wherein the first and second walls extend away from respectively the first and second mounting plates in opposite substantially circumferential directions relative to each other.
 6. The hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein the stiffening plate is to dampen oscillations in the hinge assembly.
 7. The hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein the first mounting plate is attached to the first gudgeon member via a first tongue portion, the second mounting plate is attached to the second gudgeon member via a second tongue portion, and the first and second tongue portions overlap each other along the axis.
 8. The hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein the first mounting plate is attached to the first gudgeon member via a first tongue portion, the second mounting plate is attached to the second gudgeon member via a second tongue portion, the first tongue portion tapers toward the first gudgeon member, and wherein the second tongue portion tapers toward the second gudgeon member.
 9. The hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein the first mounting plate is attached to the first gudgeon member via a first tongue portion, the second mounting plate is attached to the second gudgeon member via a second tongue portion, and at least one of the first or the second tongue portions has a substantially trapezoidal shape.
 10. The hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein the first hinge member is a first integral piece, and wherein the second hinge member is a second integral piece.
 11. The hinge assembly of claim 10, wherein the first and second hinge members are made by stamping.
 12. The hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein the first mounting plate defines a first fastener receiving part therein, the second mounting plate defines a second fastener receiving part therein, and when the first and second mounting plates are stacked in parallel along an axis, the first and second fastener receiving parts are aligned to allow a fastener to be inserted therethrough.
 13. The hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein the stiffening plate includes spring steel.
 14. The hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein the stiffening plate includes a polymer.
 15. The hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein the stiffening plate includes a viscoelastic damping polymer.
 16. A computing device comprising: a first part; a second part; and a hinge assembly including: a pintle member attached to the first part; a first hinge member including a first mounting plate attached to a first gudgeon member; a second hinge member including a second mounting plate attached to a second gudgeon member aligned with the first gudgeon member to permit the pintle member to be inserted through the first and second gudgeon members; and a stiffening plate attached between the first and second mounting plates to stiffen the hinge assembly.
 17. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the first mounting plate, the stiffening plate, and the second mounting plate are stacked along an axis perpendicular to an axis along which the first and second gudgeon members are aligned.
 18. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the first mounting plate, the stiffening plate, and the second mounting plate are stacked along an axis perpendicular to an axis along which the first and second gudgeon members extend from the first and second mounting plates.
 19. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the first mounting plate, the stiffening plate, and the second mounting plate are stacked along a first axis, wherein the first and second gudgeon members are aligned along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and wherein the first and second gudgeon members extend from the first and second mounting plates along a third axis perpendicular to each of the first axis and the second axis.
 20. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the first part comprises a display assembly, and the second part comprises a base section, and the hinge assembly is to pivotally attach the display assembly to the base section. 